Tendu Leaves
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INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL FOREST ACADEMY,DEHRADUN TENDU LEAVES Trade and management practices in India By Uttam Kumar Sharma Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Distribution of tree 1.2. Annual production and value 1.3. Average collection per family 2. Management Practices 2.1. Regeneration 2.2. Collection of leaves 2.3. Drying and curing of leaves 2.4. Package and storage 3. Marketing Strategies in the state of MP 3.1. Marketing strategies in the state of Madhya Pradesh 3.1.1. Tendu leaves collection and trade practice 3.1.2. Group insurance scheme 3.1.3. Incentive wages to tendu leaves pluckers 3.2. Case study of Harda district union, MP 4. Issues & Concerns 5. Steps Taken by State Governments to tackle the Concerns 1. Introduction Leaves of tree species Diospyros melanoxyion are used as wrappers of tobacco to produce bidi. This tree is commonly known as "tendu," but also called "abnus" in Andhra Pradesh, "kendu" in Orissa and West Bengal, "tembru" in Gujarat, "kari" in Kerala, "tembhurni" in Maharahstra, and "bali tupra" in Tamil Nadu. Botanical name of the tree is Diospyros melanoxyion. Off-cuts of leaves are burned and the ash is used in tooth powder. Diospyros melanoxylon leaf is considered the most suitable wrapper on account of the ease with which it can be rolled and its wide availability. Leaves of many other plants like Butea monosperma, Shorea robusta etc. also find use as Bidi wrappers in different parts of the country but the texture, flavour and workability of diospyros leaves are unmatchable. The wide-scale use of Diospyros melanoxylon leaves in Bidi industry is mainly based on their enormous production, agreeable flavour, flexibility, resistance to decay and capacity to retain fires. Tendu leaves The broad morphological characters on which leaves, are selected and catagorised for Bidi making are size, thickness of leaves, texture, relative thickness of midrib and lateral veins. 1.1 Distribution of tree : The species is abundant in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. It generally grows in dry mixed deciduous forests, occurring alongside Shorea robusta and Tectona grandis. Tendu tree Tendu leaf is an important NTFP and provides seasonal employment to millions of tendu leaf collectors every year. The trade in tendu leaves has been nationalised in all the major MFP producing states, which means that only state government or its authorised agents can procure these leaves from the collectors or growers. Bidi rolling is the primary job which is very simple and can be done at any place at any time. It is a source of subsidiary occupation and supplementary income to lakhs of poor rural folk Bidi industry provides employment to the rural population during off season for collection of bidi leaves. Obviously, bidi industry has a vital role in rural welfare and in promoting rural economy. 1.2 Annual Production and Value: Around 371,000 tons of bidi leaves of more than Rs 937 Crore are produced annually in India, of which over 90 percent is collected from Madhya Pradesh, ChhattisGarh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh (Table 1). Table 1. Annual production of tendu leaves State Production Value (Million Rs) (1000 tons) Madhya Pradesh 123.0 3075.0 ChhattisGarh 74.0 1849.5 Orissa 50.0 1250.0 Maharahstra 46.0 1150.0 Andhra Pradesh 39.0 975.0 Bihar 24.0 600.0 Rajastan 6.5 162.5 Uttar Pradesh 5.0 125.0 Gujarat 5.0 125.0 Tamil Nadu 2.0 50.0 West Bengal 0.5 12.5 Total 371.0 9374.0 Reporting of tendu leaves production by States is in Standard bag unit ( 1standard bag = 1000 bundles; 1 bundle = 50 tendu leaves) Conversion factor 1 standard bag = 45 kg has been used to arrive at figures in tons The value of these leaves is based on an average price of Rs 25,000 per ton, but rates vary from state to state, according to demand, availability of leaves, and location of bidi- making industries. Madhya Pradesh is the biggest Tendu Leaves (Leaves of Diospyros melonoxylon) producing State of India. The average annual production of Tendu Leaves in Madhya Pradesh is around 25 lakh standard bags, which is nearly 25% of the total Tendu Leaves production of the country. 1.3 Average Collection per family : About 1800 bundles annually ( one bundle is of 50 Tendu leaves) The two main cash earners among NWFP, Sal (Shorea robusta) seeds and tendu (Diospyros melanoxyion) leaves, are collected primarily by women. It is estimated that more than 350,000 tonnes of tendu leaves are harvested annually by 600,000 women and children. 2. Management Practices The leaves are obtained from Tendu tree (Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.) belonging to Family Ebenaceae, which is endemic to Indian sub-continent. According to Troup (1921) Diospyros melanoxylon (inclusive of D. tomentosa and D. tupru) is one of the most characteristic trees of the dry deciduous forests throughout India, covering the entire Indian peninsula the area of distribution extends upto Nepal in sub-Himalayan tracts including the Indian plain, Gangetic plain, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, western coast upto Malabar and Eastern coast upto Coromandel. The plant is also met with on the Nilgiris and Serawalli hills in the south. Tendu is a slow growing plant of tree habit, but for ease of collection, the plants are pruned to retain them in the bush stage. They are abundant in degraded Sal and miscellaneous forests and also occur on wasteland adjoining forests. Tendu bushes are usually coppiced in February. The leaves then sprout and become ready for collection after about 45 days. Semi-mature leaves are collected from the first week of April to June. 2.1 Regeneration: There is wide variation in the quality of leaves from different locations. Superior-quality leaves of large size, papery texture, and inconspicuous veins fetch up to 5 times the price of inferior-quality leaves. There is, however, vast opportunity for propagating better strains artificially. About 40 percent of fresh seed germinates. Germination starts after 36 days and is complete in 80 days. It is best to raise seedlings in long narrow baskets and transplant the seedlings with the second rains. Seed can also be directly sown in lines. Under natural conditions, seed germinates in the rainy season and seedling production is plentiful. Seedlings tolerate considerable shade, but for optional development more light is required. Seedlings resist frost and drought, but are vulnerable to excessive dampness. The profusion and tenacity of root suckers ensure the survival and spread of the species without planting. For coppicing, the ideal girth of plants is 15 centimeters. Coppicing yields the best quality leaves and also facilitates easy collection. A light burning just before sprouting stimulates the dominant leaf buds and favors a better flush of numerous tender leaves. The best coppicing results are attained when stems are cut 15 centimeters above the ground, but cutting at such height is difficult. Therefore, the common practice is to cut flush with the ground Cutting occurs between January and March There is a bumper production of leaves once in four years. young tendu trees by side branch cutting 2.2 Collection of leaves: The procedure for collection and processing of tendu leaves has almost been standardised and almost the same procedure is used everywhere. The tendu plants are pruned in the months of February and March. Tree pruning or bush cutting is an important operation in the tendu leaf production process. This operation is executed directly by FD or its agents. The mature leaves are collected after about 45 days of pruning. Leaves are plucked just after they have turned from crimson to bright green and have a leathery texture Generally, collection starts from the second fortnight of April and continues until the onset of the monsoon. Bundles of 50, 70, or 100 leaves (depending on drying conditions) are assembled and tied with strings or fibers from bark. These bundles are brought by collectors to collection centers where they are processed. 2.3 Drying and Curing of leaves: Proper drying of leaves is important. Too much moisture makes the leaves black and mouldy with foul odor. Too much drying makes the leaves brittle, resulting in loss during handling. To dry, leaf bundles are spread or the ground, keeping the dorsal sides up for three to four days. The bundles are then turned upside down. Drying is complete in about 8 to 10 days. 2.4 Packing and Storage: Dried leaves are packed in gunny sacks for storage in godowns until sold or used for making bidis The number of leaves in one standard bag varies from state to state. Before filling the bags, the dried leaves are sprinkled with water to soften them and then filled tightly in jute bags and exposed to direct sunlight for 2 days. The bags, thus packed and cured can be stored till their use in Bidi manufacture. Great care is needed while plucking, curing and storage of tendu leaves. It is a sensitive product and with the slightest mistakes or oversight during any of these processes their quality deteriorates rendering them unfit for making Bidis. 3. Marketing Strategies in different states Tendu leaves trade in all the producing states is nationalized. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar are the main producer of tendu leaves and in all these states , trade in tendu leaves is nationalized. Nationalization means that State will have monopoly over trade. Different States did nationalization in different years. The primary objectives for nationalisation were – i. Stopping pilferage in government forest and other lands, ii. Provide definite value for Tendu leaves to growers, iii.